One of the most compelling aspects of the current WNBA offseason is the WNBA Expansion Draft (which is to build a roster for the new Golden State Valkyries franchise) that’s going to take place on December 6.
All 12 of the current WNBA franchises can protect up to six players (meaning these six can’t be taken by the Valkyries in the draft), and Golden State will get to choose one player per team from the pool of remaining available players.
However, while the draft itself takes place on December 6, every team has until Monday (November 25) to submit their list of up to six protected players, which must include both those who finished the season on their roster (including soon-to-be unrestricted free agents) and any other player that the team holds rights to.
On Saturday, the Indiana Fever’s X account posted a graphic that included head coach Stephanie White speaking to six Fever players (Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith, Lexie Hull, and Temi Fagbenle) with the caption, “new era, new energy.
“already making plans for next season 😈”.
The post has since been deleted, but fans took screenshots before it was.
Fever revealing their protected list in the most grotesque way possible. pic.twitter.com/WZf8qRPeCu
— Snap’ja Wilson🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🇺🇦🇵🇸 (@snapwilson) November 23, 2024
Since there are six players in the graphic and Indiana is protecting six players in the Expansion Draft, Fever fans on social media seem convinced the six included are who the team will protect.
“did you just drop the 6 protected players?👀,” X user @worldchamp44 wrote in response to the graphic.
Another fan added, “now THIS is how you announce the protected six”.
“Well, we know who our protected 6 are,” a third fan added.
To be clear, it is simply speculation that the image featured the six protected players and the whole thing could very well be a coincidence. Although the post now having been deleted makes the matter more compelling.
